Improvement in compound treadles



dimmi @gieten ORWELL H. N-EEDHAM, OF NEW YORK, Y. 'y

Letters Patent No 107,619, elated September 20, 18.70.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, ORWELL'H. NEEDHAM, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Compound Treadle, of whichthe following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to -the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, andin which- -Figure l represents a plan of my improved compound treadle,and

Figure 2 a side elevation of the same. Similar letters' of referenceindicate corresponding parts.

My invention, while applicable to treadle-motions generally, is moreparticularly intended to be used in connection with thetreadle-movements of sewingmachines, to allow of the start-ing of thecrank-shaft when arrested on its dead-center, and to insure the startingof it in the requisite or a given direction, in.

whatever position -it may have been stopped; to this end,

'My treadle, which is the subject of this application, may be connected,in addition to its attachment by pitlnen to the crank, with acombination of ratchet and pawl devices, similar to those described iuLetters Patent No lOl-,152, issued to ine March 22, 1870, or with any'other means that will secure to the crankshaft, by treadle-pressureoraction, a starting movement in the requisite direct-ion.

My invention consists in a compound treadle for effecting both thestarting of the crank-shaft, as hereinbefore referred to, .and theruiming or driving of said shaft, after it has been started, withoutremoval of the foot, as where an independent treadle is used, andwithoutany protrusion above the feet or solepiece of the treadle proper toenter thetrch of' the foot, and which it is diliicult to adapt to feetof different shape, or shoes of varied form, as, for instance,

' boots with heels and slippere'without heels.

Referring to the accompanying drawing- A represents the treadle orrock-shaft, and B the treadlefor foot-plates, from which the connectionis made by pitmau, as at b, to the crank of lshoeswith or without heels,being independent of the lit of the arch of the foot to it, yet, by itsarrangement over the lower foot-plate oi' treadle,.of which it formspart, and to which it is attached or hinged, said upper foot-plate B iscapable of being operated without removal of the foot from the treadle.'When down, it becomes part of the treadle to actuate the crank'- shaftin the ordinary manner; but, when raised, it oc- `Cupies a positionwhich allows of an independent motion, by pressure of the footupon it,to give the nee-l essary movement to the starting devices of thccrankshaft, to which end said upper foot-plate B may be connected withsaid devices by rod from 'a slotted guideor arm, d, projecting from thesidevof said footplate, and made to embrace the rock-shaft A. It may bekept raised, when the foot is relieved from pressure on it,'by a springadjustment of the start-ingedevices back to their normal position.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letter Patent, is

A compound treadle, formed of a lower foot-plate or plates 'B and upper,foot-plate B', pivoted, as at c, to the lower plate, for independentaction and joint operation with the latter, relativelyto'thetreadle-shaft A, substantially as specified.

ORVVELL' H. NEEDHAM.

Witnesses FRED. HAYNns, f R. E. RABEAU.

